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Abstract:

A device is for measuring and analyzing electromyography signals obtained
from a target body part that is divided into an unhealthy-side muscle
group and a healthy-side muscle group, and includes an unhealthy-side
measuring electrode unit to be disposed on the unhealthy-side muscle
group for measuring an electromyography signal therefrom so as to
generate unhealthy-side measured data, a healthy-side measuring electrode
unit to be disposed on the healthy-side muscle group for measuring an
electromyography signal therefrom so as to generate healthy-side measured
data, and a control unit determining a correlation between the
unhealthy-side measured data and the healthy-side measured data.

Claims:

1. A device for measuring and analyzing electromyography signals obtained
from a target body part that is divided into an unhealthy-side muscle
group and a healthy-side muscle group, said device comprising: an
unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit adapted to be disposed on the
unhealthy-side muscle group and for measuring an electromyography signal
from the unhealthy-side muscle group so as to generate unhealthy-side
measured data; a healthy-side measuring electrode unit adapted to be
disposed on the healthy-side muscle group and for measuring an
electromyography signal from the healthy-side muscle group so as to
generate healthy-side measured data; and a control unit connected
electrically to said unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit and said
healthy-side measuring electrode, and determining a correlation between
the unhealthy-side measured data and the healthy-side measured data.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, the healthy-side
muscle group including healthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles,
wherein: said unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit includes a first
unhealthy-side measuring electrode that is to be disposed on the
unhealthy-side OO muscles and that is for measuring an electromyography
signal thereof so as to generate first unhealthy-side measured sub-data
of the unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side measuring
electrode unit includes a first healthy-side measuring electrode that is
to be disposed on the healthy-side OO muscles and that is for measuring
an electromyography signal thereof so as to generate first healthy-side
measured sub-data of the healthy-side measured data; and said control
unit is configured to perform integration operations on the first
unhealthy-side measured sub-data and the first healthy-side measured
sub-data so as to obtain respectively first unhealthy-side integrated
data and first healthy-side integrated data, and is further configured to
determine a correlation between the first unhealthy-side integrated data
and the first healthy-side integrated data.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side masseter (MS) muscles, the healthy-side muscle
group including healthy-side masseter (MS) muscles, wherein: said
unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit includes a second unhealthy-side
measuring electrode that is to be disposed on the unhealthy-side MS
muscles and that is for measuring an electromyography signal thereof so
as to generate second unhealthy-side measured sub-data of the
unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side measuring electrode unit
includes a second healthy-side measuring electrode that is to be disposed
on the healthy-side MS muscles and that is for measuring an
electromyography signal thereof so as to generate second healthy-side
measured sub-data of the healthy-side measured data; and said control
unit is configured to perform integration operations on the second
unhealthy-side measured sub-data and the second healthy-side measured
sub-data so as to obtain respectively second unhealthy-side integrated
data and second healthy-side integrated data, and is further configured
to determine a correlation between the second unhealthy-side integrated
data and the second healthy-side integrated data.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side submental (SUB) muscles, the healthy-side muscle
group including healthy-side submental (SUB) muscles, wherein: said
unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit includes a third unhealthy-side
measuring electrode that is to be disposed on the unhealthy-side SUB
muscles and that is for measuring an electromyography signal thereof so
as to generate third unhealthy-side measured sub-data of the
unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side measuring electrode unit
includes a third healthy-side measuring electrode that is to be disposed
on the healthy-side SUB muscles and that is for measuring an
electromyography signal thereof so as to generate third healthy-side
measured sub-data of the healthy-side measured data; and said control
unit is configured to perform integration operations on the third
unhealthy-side measured sub-data and the third healthy-side measured
sub-data so as to obtain respectively third unhealthy-side integrated
data and third healthy-side integrated data, and is further configured to
determine a correlation between the third unhealthy-side integrated data
and the third healthy-side integrated data.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, the healthy-side
muscle group including healthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles,
wherein: said unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit includes a fourth
unhealthy-side measuring electrode than is to be disposed on the
unhealthy-side LS muscles and that is for measuring an electromyography
signal thereof so as to generate fourth unhealthy-side measured sub-data
of the unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side measuring
electrode unit includes a fourth healthy-side measuring electrode that is
to be disposed on the healthy-side LS muscles and that is for measuring
an electromyography signal thereof so as to generate fourth healthy-side
measured sub-data of the healthy-side measured data; and said control
unit is configured to perform integration operations on the fourth
unhealthy-side measured sub-data and the fourth healthy-side measured
sub-data so as to obtain respectively fourth unhealthy-side integrated
data and fourth healthy-side integrated data, and is further configured
to determine a correlation between the fourth unhealthy-side integrated
data and the fourth healthy-side integrated data.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said unhealthy-side
measuring electrode unit includes a first unhealthy-side measuring
electrode, a second unhealthy-side measuring electrode and a third
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, each of which is for generating a
respective one of first unhealthy-side measured sub-data, second
unhealthy-side measured sub-data and third unhealthy-side measured
sub-data of the unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side measuring
electrode unit includes a first healthy-side measuring electrode, a
second healthy-side measuring electrode and a third healthy-side
measuring electrode, each of which is for generating a respective one of
first healthy-side measured sub-data, second healthy-side measured
sub-data and third healthy-side measured sub-data of the healthy-side
measured data; and said control unit is configured to calculate a mean of
each of the first unhealthy-side measured sub-data, the second
unhealthy-side measured sub-data, the third unhealthy-side measured
sub-data, the first healthy-side measured sub-data, the second
healthy-side measured sub-data and the third healthy-side measured
sub-data, so as to generate a respective one of a first unhealthy-side
measured mean, a second, unhealthy-side measured mean, a third
unhealthy-side measured mean, a first healthy-side measured mean, a
second healthy-side measured mean and a third healthy-side measured mean,
and determine a correlation between a set of the first unhealthy-side
measured mean, the second unhealthy-side measured mean and the third
unhealthy-side measured mean, and a set of the first healthy-side
measured mean, the second healthy-side measured mean and the third
healthy-side measured mean.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, unhealthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, unhealthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
unhealthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, the healthy-side muscle
group including healthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, healthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, healthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
healthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, wherein: each of said first
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said second unhealthy-side measuring
electrode, said third unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said first
healthy-side measuring electrode, said second healthy-side measuring
electrode and said third healthy-side measuring electrode is to be
disposed on one of a respective one of the unhealthy-side OO muscles, the
unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles, the
healthy-side OO muscles, the healthy-side MS muscles and the healthy-side
SUB muscles, a respective one of the unhealthy-side OO muscles, the
unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side LS muscles, the
healthy-side OO muscles, the healthy-side MS muscles and the healthy-side
LS muscles, and a respective one of the unhealthy-side LS muscles, the
unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles, the
healthy-side LS muscles, the healthy-side MS muscles and the healthy-side
SUB muscles.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said unhealthy-side
measuring electrode unit further includes a fourth unhealthy-side
measuring electrode, which is for generating fourth unhealthy-side
measured sub-data of the unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side
measuring electrode unit further includes a fourth healthy-side measuring
electrode, which is for generating fourth healthy-side measured sub-data
of the healthy-side measured data; and said control unit is further
configured to calculate a mean of each of the fourth unhealthy-side
measured sub-data and the fourth healthy-side measured sub-data, so as to
generate a respective one of a fourth unhealthy-side measured mean and a
fourth healthy-side measured mean, and determine a correlation between a
set of the first unhealthy-side measured mean, the second unhealthy-side
measured mean, the third unhealthy-side measured mean and the fourth
unhealthy-side measured mean, and a set of the first healthy-side
measured mean, the second healthy-side measured mean, the third
healthy-side measured mean and the fourth healthy-side measured mean.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, unhealthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, unhealthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
unhealthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, the healthy-side muscle
group including healthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, healthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, healthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
healthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, wherein: each of said first
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said second unhealthy-side measuring
electrode, said third unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said fourth
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said first healthy-side measuring
electrode, said second healthy-side measuring electrode, said third
healthy-side measuring electrode and said fourth healthy-side measuring
electrode is to be disposed on a respective one of the unhealthy-side OO
muscles, she unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles,
the unhealthy-side LS muscles, the healthy-side OO muscles, the
healthy-side MS muscles, the healthy-side SUB muscles and the
healthy-side LS muscles.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said unhealthy-side
measuring electrode unit includes a first unhealthy-side measuring
electrode, a second unhealthy-side measuring electrode and a third
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, each of which is for generating a
respective one of first unhealthy-side measured sub-data, second
unhealthy-side measured sub-data and third unhealthy-side measured
sub-data of the unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side measuring
electrode unit includes a first healthy-side measuring electrode, a
second healthy-side measuring electrode and a third healthy-side
measuring electrode, each of which is for generating a respective one of
first healthy-side measured sub-data, second healthy-side measured
sub-data and third healthy-side measured sub-data of the healthy-side
measured data; and said control unit is configured to generate a first
unhealthy-side swallow duration value, a second unhealthy-side swallow
duration value, a third unhealthy-side swallow duration value, a first
healthy-side swallow duration value, a second healthy-side swallow
duration value and a third healthy-side swallow duration value, each of
which is associated with duration of muscle contraction due to swallowing
behavior, according to the first unhealthy-side measured sub-data, the
second unhealthy-side measured sub-data, the third unhealthy-side
measured sub-data, the first healthy-side measured sub-data, the second
healthy-side measured sub-data and the third healthy-side measured
sub-data, respectively, and determine a correlation between a set of the
first unhealthy-side swallow duration value, the second unhealthy-side
swallow duration value and the third unhealthy-side swallow duration
value, and a set of the first healthy-side swallow duration value, the
second healthy-side swallow duration value and the third healthy-side
swallow duration value.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, unhealthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, unhealthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
unhealthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, the healthy-side muscle
group including healthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, healthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, healthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
healthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, wherein: each of said first
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said second unhealthy-side measuring
electrode, said third unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said first
healthy-side measuring electrode, said second healthy-side measuring
electrode and said third healthy-side measuring electrode is to be
disposed on one of a respective one of the unhealthy-side OO muscles, the
unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles, the
healthy-side OO muscles, the healthy-side MS muscles and the healthy-side
SUB muscles, a respective one of the unhealthy-side OO muscles, the
unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side LS muscles, the
healthy-side OO muscles, the healthy-side MS muscles and the healthy-side
LS muscles, and a respective one of the unhealthy-side LS muscles, the
unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles, the
healthy-side LS muscles, the healthy-side MS muscles and the healthy-side
SUB muscles.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said unhealthy-side
measuring electrode unit further includes a fourth unhealthy-side
measuring electrode, which is for generating fourth unhealthy-side
measured sub-data of the unhealthy-side measured data; said healthy-side
measuring electrode unit further includes a fourth healthy-side measuring
electrode, which is for generating fourth healthy-side measured sub-data
of the healthy-side measured data; and said control unit is further
configured to generate a fourth unhealthy-side swallow duration value and
a fourth healthy-side swallow duration value, each of which is associated
with duration of muscle contraction due to swallowing behavior, according
to the fourth unhealthy-side measured sub-data and the fourth
healthy-side measured sub-data, respectively, and determine a correlation
between a set of the first unhealthy-side swallow duration value, the
second unhealthy-side swallow duration value, the third unhealthy-side
swallow duration value and the fourth unhealthy-side swallow duration
value, and a set of the first healthy-side swallow duration value, the
second healthy-side swallow duration value, the third healthy-side
swallow duration value, and the fourth healthy-side swallow duration
value.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, the unhealthy-side muscle group
including unhealthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, unhealthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, unhealthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
unhealthy-side laryngeal strap (LB) muscles, the healthy-side muscle
group including healthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles, healthy-side
masseter (MS) muscles, healthy-side submental (SUB) muscles and
healthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles, wherein: each of said first
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said second unhealthy-side measuring
electrode, said third unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said fourth
unhealthy-side measuring electrode, said first healthy-side measuring
electrode, said second healthy-side measuring electrode, said third
healthy-side measuring electrode and said fourth healthy-side measuring
electrode is to be disposed on a respective one of the unhealthy-side OO
muscles, the unhealthy-side MS muscles, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles,
the unhealthy-side LS muscles, the healthy-side OO muscles, the
healthy-side MS muscles, the healthy-side SUB muscles and the
healthy-side LS muscles.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing for
accommodating said control unit.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said housing is to be
removably disposed on an external portable electronic device, and said
control unit is configured for communicating with the external portable
electronic device in a wired manner.

16. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said housing is to be
removably disposed on an external portable electronic device, and said
control unit is configured for communicating with the external portable
electronic device in a wireless manner.

17. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wireless
communication unit coupled to said control unit for communicating
wirelessly with an external portable electronic device.

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for measuring and
analyzing electromyography signals, more particularly to a device for
measuring electromyography signals from muscle groups and analyzing a
correlation between the electromyography signals.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) is usually used for
diagnosis and evaluation of a syndrome of swallowing disorder
(dysphagia). However, since a patient who undergoes VFSS must be exposed
to radiation, it is not suitable for the patent to have another VFSS
within a short amount of time. Moreover, VFSS must be performed by a
specialist, and is thus unsuitable for the patient to perform VFSS at
home.

[0006] Fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing is another method
commonly used for assessment of swallowing disorder. During the
assessment, a fiberoptic endoscope is inserted into a patient's nostril
and placed on the hypopharynx for observing movements of the patient's
hypopharynx, throat, and upper part of trachea. However, since this
method is an invasive assessment method and requires a bulky equipment,
this method is also not suitable to regularly evaluate an effect of
rehabilitation practice associated with swallowing disorder for a
patient.

[0007] Therefore, how to develop a non-invasive measuring and analyzing
equipment which facilitates regular examination and evaluation of a
patient with swallowing disorder is a subject of endeavor in the present
invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a
device for measuring and analyzing electromyography signals which makes
it easy for a user to examine and evaluate muscle dysfunction.

[0009] Accordingly, the device, according to the present invention, is
adapted for measuring and analyzing electromyography signals obtained
from a target body part that is divided into an unhealthy-side muscle
group and a healthy-side muscle group. The device comprises an
unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit, a healthy-side measuring
electrode unit and a control unit. The unhealthy-side measuring electrode
unit is adapted to be disposed on the unhealthy-side muscle group and is
adapted for measuring an electromyography signal from the unhealthy-side
muscle group so as to generate unhealthy-side measured data. The
healthy-side measuring electrode unit is adapted to be disposed on the
healthy-side muscle group and is adapted for measuring an
electromyography signal from the healthy-side muscle group so as to
generate healthy-side measured data. The control unit is connected
electrically to the unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit and the
healthy-side measuring electrode, and determines a correlation between
the unhealthy-side measured data and the healthy-side measured data.

[0010] Effects of the present invention reside in that, by virtue of the
non-invasive unhealthy-side and healthy-side measuring electrode units
adapted for measuring the electromyography signals from the target body
part, regular examination for a patient with swallowing disorder may be
facilitated. Besides, by virtue of the control unit which determines a
correlation between the unhealthy-side measured data and the healthy-side
measured data, a user is able to evaluate severity of swallowing disorder
of the patient based on a degree of the correlation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent in the following detailed description of three preferred
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of a
device, according to the present invention, for measuring and analyzing
electromyography signals;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the first preferred embodiment
used to measure a subject;

[0018] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of
the device, according to the present invention, for measuring and
analyzing electromyography signals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Before the present invention is described in greater detail with
reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that the same
reference numerals are used to denote the same elements throughout the
following description.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a
device, according to the present invention, for measuring and analyzing
electromyography signals is illustrated. The device 100 for measuring and
analyzing electromyography signals is utilized to measure
electromyography signals obtained from a target body part 9 of a subject
900. In this embodiment, the target body part 9 is a muscle group
associated with swallowing behavior, and the device 100 is used to
measure the electromyography signals of the target body part 9 resulting
from the swallowing behavior. The target body part 9 is divided into an
unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and a healthy-side muscle group 92. In
other words, one side of the target body part 9 of the subject 900 is
healthy and the other side thereof has a syndrome of swallowing disorder.
The unhealthy-side muscle group 91 includes unhealthy-side orbicularis
oris (OO) muscles 911, unhealthy-side masseter (MS) muscles 912,
unhealthy-side submental (SUB) muscles 913 and unhealthy-side laryngeal
strap (LS) muscles 914. The healthy-side muscle group 92 includes
healthy-side orbicularis oris (OO) muscles 921, healthy-side masseter
(MS) muscles 922, healthy-side submental (SUB) muscles 923 and
healthy-side laryngeal strap (LS) muscles 924.

[0021] The device 100 for measuring and analyzing electromyography signals
comprises a control unit 3, and a signal processing unit 8, a display
unit 4, a wireless communication unit 5, an input unit 6 and a storage
unit 7, each of which is coupled electrically to the control unit 3. The
device 100 further comprises an unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit 1
and a healthy-side measuring electrode unit 2, each of which is coupled
electrically to the signal processing unit 8.

[0022] The unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit 1 is adapted to be
disposed on the unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and is adapted for
measuring an electromyography signal from the unhealthy-side muscle group
91 so as to generate unhealthy-side measured data. The unhealthy-side
measuring electrode unit 1 includes a first unhealthy-side measuring
electrode 11, a second unhealthy-side measuring electrode 12, a third,
unhealthy-side measuring electrode 13 and a fourth unhealthy-side
measuring electrode 14, each of which is to be disposed on a respective
one of the unhealthy-side OO muscles 911, the unhealthy-side MS muscles
912, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles 913 and the unhealthy-side LS muscles
914, and each of which is for measuring an electromyography signal of a
respective one of the unhealthy-side OO muscles 911, the unhealthy-side
MS muscles 912, the unhealthy-side SUB muscles 913 and the unhealthy-side
LS muscles 914, so as to generate a respective one of first
unhealthy-side measured sub-data, second unhealthy-side measured
sub-data, third unhealthy-side measured sub-data and fourth
unhealthy-side measured sub-data of the unhealthy-side measured data. It
is noted that, each of the first to fourth unhealthy-side measuring
electrodes 11-14 measures the electromyography signal at a preset
frequency, and each of the first to fourth unhealthy-side measured
sub-data thus generated includes a plurality of electromyography signals
which are sorted in an order the electromyography signals are measured.
The first unhealthy-side measured sub-data, the second unhealthy-side
measured sub-data, the third unhealthy-side measured sub-data and the
fourth unhealthy-side measured sub-data are respectively represented as
X1, X2, X3 and X4, and X1={X11, X12, .
. . , X1a}, X2={X21, X22, . . . , X2b},
X3={X31, X32, . . . , X3c} and X4={X41,
X42, . . . , X4d}.

[0023] The healthy-side measuring electrode unit 2 is adapted to be
disposed on the healthy-side muscle group 92 and is adapted for measuring
an electromyography signal from the healthy-side muscle group 92 so as to
generate healthy-side measured data. The healthy-side measuring electrode
unit 2 includes a first healthy-side Measuring electrode 21, a second
healthy-side measuring electrode 22, a third healthy-side measuring
electrode 23 and a fourth healthy-side measuring electrode 24, each of
which is to be disposed on a respective one of the healthy-side OO
muscles 921, the healthy-side MS muscles 922, the healthy-side SUB
muscles 923 and the healthy-side LS muscles 924, and each of which is for
measuring an electromyography signal of a respective one of the
healthy-side OO muscles 921, the healthy-side MS muscles 922, the
healthy-side SUB muscles 923 and the healthy-side LS muscles 924, so as
to generate a respective one of first healthy-side measured sub-data,
second healthy-side measured sub-data, third healthy-side measured
sub-data and fourth healthy-side measured sub-data of the healthy-side
measured data. It is noted that, each of the first to fourth healthy-side
measuring electrodes 21-24 measures the electromyography signal at a
preset frequency, and each of the first to fourth healthy-side measured
sub-data thus generated includes a plurality of electromyography signals
which are sorted in an order the electromyography signals are measured.
The first healthy-side measured sub-data, the second healthy-side
measured, sub-data, the third healthy-side measured sub-data and the
fourth healthy-side measured sub-data are respectively represented as
Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4, and Y1={Y11, Y12,
. . . , Y1a}, Y2={Y21, Y22, . . . , Y2b},
Y3={Y31, Y32, . . . , Y3c} and Y4={Y41,
Y42, . . . , Y4d}.

[0024] The signal processing unit 8 receives the electromyography signals
measured by the unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit 1 and the
healthy-side measuring electrode unit 2, filters and amplifies the same,
and transmits the electromyography signals thus filtered and amplified to
the control unit 3. The control unit 3 determines a correlation between
the unhealthy-side measured data and the healthy-side measured data such
that severity of swallowing disorder of the subject 900 may be evaluated
based on the correlation. When the correlation between the unhealthy-side
measured data and the healthy-side measured data is lower, it means that
consistency of the swallowing behavior between the unhealthy-side muscle
group 91 and the healthy-side muscle group 92 is lower, and the syndrome
of swallowing disorder of the subject 900 is more severe. On the other
hand, when the correlation between the unhealthy-side measured data and
the healthy-side measured data is higher, it means that consistency of
the swallowing behavior between the unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and
the healthy-side muscle group 92 is higher, and the syndrome of
swallowing disorder of the subject 900 is milder.

[0025] In this embodiment, the Pearson's correlation coefficient is
adopted to represent the correlation. The Pearson's correlation
coefficient is given a value between +1 and -1. When the value is closer
to +1, it means that a positive linear correlation is higher; when the
value is closer to -1, it means that a negative linear correlation is
higher; and when the value is closer to 0, it means that the correlation
is lower. Calculations associated with the Pearson's correlation
coefficient in this embodiment are illustrated hereinafter.

[0026] The control unit 3 is configured to perform integration operations
on the first unhealthy-side measured sub-data X1 and the first
healthy-side measured sub-data Y1 so as to obtain respectively first
unhealthy-side integrated data Xx1 and first healthy-side integrated
data Yx1, wherein

Subsequently, the control unit 3 is further configured to determine a
correlation between the first unhealthy-side integrated data Xx1 and
the first healthy-side integrated data Yx1. The Pearson's
correlation coefficient therebetween is obtained by the following
equation:

[0027] By virtue of the Pearson's correlation coefficient between the
first unhealthy-side integrated data Xx1 and the first healthy-side
integrated data Yx1, severity of swallowing disorder associated with
the unhealthy-side OO muscles 911 may be represented.

[0028] Similarly, the control unit 3 is configured to perform integration
operations on the second unhealthy-side measured sub-data X2 and the
second healthy-side measured sub-data Y2 so as to obtain
respectively second unhealthy-side integrated data Xx2 and second
healthy-side integrated data Yx2, wherein

Subsequently, the control unit 3 is further configured to determine a
correlation between the second unhealthy-side integrated data Xx2
and the second healthy-side integrated data Yx2. The Pearson's
correlation coefficient therebetween is obtained by the following
equation;

[0029] By virtue of the Pearson's correlation coefficient between the
second unhealthy-side integrated data Xx2 and the second
healthy-side integrated data Yx2, severity of swallowing disorder
associated with the unhealthy-side MS muscles 912 may be represented.

[0030] Likewise, the control unit 3 is configured to perform integration
operations on the third unhealthy-side measured sub-data X3 and the
third healthy-side measured sub-data Y3 so as to obtain respectively
third unhealthy-side integrated data Xx3 and third healthy-side
integrated data Yx3, wherein

Subsequently, the control unit 3 is further configured to determine a
correlation between the third unhealthy-side integrated data Xx3 and
the third healthy-side integrated data Yx3. The Pearson's
correlation coefficient therebetween is obtained by the following
equation:

[0031] By virtue of the Pearson's correlation coefficient between the
third unhealthy-side integrated data Xx3 and the third healthy-side
integrated data Yx3, severity of swallowing disorder associated with
the unhealthy-side SUB muscles 913 may be represented.

Subsequently, the control unit 3 is further configured to determine a
correlation between the fourth unhealthy-side integrated data Xx4
and the fourth healthy-side integrated data Yx4. The Pearson's
correlation coefficient therebetween is obtained by the following
equation:

[0033] By virtue of the Pearson's correlation coefficient between the
fourth unhealthy-side integrated data Xx4 and the fourth
healthy-side integrated data Yx4, severity of swallowing disorder
associated with the unhealthy-side LS muscles 914 may be represented.

[0034] Since durations of muscle contraction of each of the unhealthy-side
muscle group 91 and the healthy-side muscle group 92 due to the
swallowing behavior are different, and swallowing muscles with swallowing
disorder generally have shorter duration of muscle contraction, the
severity of swallowing disorder may be further evaluated by a correlation
between the duration of muscle contraction. How to represent the severity
of swallowing disorder by virtue of the correlation between the duration
of muscle contraction in this embodiment is illustrated hereinafter.

[0035] The control unit 3 is configured to generate a first unhealthy-side
swallow duration value tX1, a second unhealthy-side swallow duration
value tX2, a third unhealthy-side swallow duration value tX3, a
fourth unhealthy-side swallow duration value tX4, a first
healthy-side swallow duration value tY1, a second healthy-side
swallow duration value tY2, a third healthy-side swallow duration
value tX3 and a fourth healthy-side swallow duration value tX4,
each of which is associated with duration of muscle contraction due to
swallowing behavior, according to the first unhealthy-side measured
sub-data X1, the second unhealthy-side measured sub-data X2,
the third unhealthy-side measured sub-data X3, the fourth
unhealthy-side measured sub-data X4, the first healthy-side measured
sub-data Y1, the second healthy-side measured sub-data Y2, the
third healthy-side measured sub-data Y3 and the fourth healthy-side
measured sub-data Y4, respectively.

[0036] Subsequently, the control unit 3 is further configured to determine
a correlation between a set tx of the first unhealthy-side swallow
duration value tX1, the second unhealthy-side swallow duration value
tX2, the third unhealthy-side swallow duration value tX3 and
the fourth unhealthy-side swallow duration value tX4, and a set
ty of the first healthy-side swallow duration value tY1, the
second healthy-side swallow duration value tY2, the third
healthy-side swallow duration value tY3 and the fourth healthy-side
swallow duration value tY4. The sets tX and tY are defined
as tX={tX1, tX3, tX4} and tY={tY1,
tY2, tY3, tY4}. The Pearson's correlation coefficient
(i.e., the aforesaid correlation) between the duration of muscle
contraction of a respective one of the unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and
the healthy-side muscle group 92 is obtained by the following equation;

[0037] By virtue of the Pearson's correlation coefficient between the
duration of muscle contraction of a respective one of the unhealthy-side
muscle group 91 and the healthy-side muscle group 92, severity of
swallowing disorder associated with the unhealthy-side muscle group 91
may be represented.

[0038] On the other hand, by virtue of determining a correlation between
means of the electromyography signals of a respective one of the
unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and the healthy-side muscle group 92,
respectively, within the duration of muscle contraction, the severity of
swallowing disorder may also be revealed. Calculations associated with
the means and the correlation are described hereinafter.

[0039] The control unit 3 is configured to calculate a mean of the
electromyography signals of each of the first unhealthy-side measured
sub-data X1, the second unhealthy-side measured sub-data X2,
the third unhealthy-side measured sub-data X3, the fourth
unhealthy-side measured sub-data X4, the first healthy-side measured
sub-data Y1, the second healthy-side measured sub-data Y2, the
third healthy-side measured sub-data Y3 and the fourth healthy-side
measured sub-data Y4, within the duration of muscle contraction, so
as to generate a respective one of a first unhealthy-side measured mean
X1, a second unhealthy-side measured mean X2, a third
unhealthy-side measured mean X3, a fourth unhealthy-side measured
mean X4, a first healthy-side measured mean Y1, a second
healthy-side measured mean Y2, a third healthy-side measured mean
Y3 and a fourth healthy-side measured mean Y4. It is noted
that, the mean in this embodiment is obtained by calculating a mean of a
plurality of absolute values of a respective one of the electromyography
signals. The reason behind using the absolute values for calculations is
that, since the control unit 3 is configured to subtract a base value
that is associated with a static state of respective muscles from the
electromyography signal thus measured, a negative result of the
electromyography signal may be obtained. The absolute value of the
electromyography signal stands for amplitude of the electromyography
signal, i.e., the intensity of the electromyography signal.

[0040] Afterward, the control unit 3 is further configured to determine a
correlation between a set X' of the first unhealthy-side measured mean
X1, the second unhealthy-side measured mean X2, the third
unhealthy-side measured mean X3 and the fourth unhealthy-side
measured mean X4, and a set Y' of the first healthy-side measured
mean Y1, the second healthy-side measured mean Y2, the third
healthy-side measured mean Y3 and the fourth healthy-side measured
mean Y4. The sets X' and Y' are defined as X'={ X1, X2,
X3, X4} and Y'={ Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4}. The
Pearson' correlation coefficient (i.e., the aforesaid correlation)
between the means of the electromyography signals of a respective one of
the unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and the healthy-side muscle group 92
within the duration of muscle contraction is obtained by the following
equation:

[0041] When a result of each of the aforementioned Pearson's correlation
coefficients is closer to +1, it means that the electromyography signals
of the unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and the healthy-side muscle group
92 resulting from the swallowing behavior are similar. On the contrary,
when the result of each of the aforementioned Pearson's correlation
coefficients is much smaller than +1, it means that the electromyography
signals of the unhealthy-side muscle group 91 and the healthy-side muscle
group 92 resulting from the swallowing behavior are more divergent, that
is, the syndrome of swallowing disorder is more severe.

[0042] Functionalities of the other components of the device 100 for
measuring and analyzing electromyography signals is illustrated in the
following. The input unit 6 is implemented with a plurality of keys, and
alternatively may be an input device including a touch module that
enables user operation so as to generate a control signal to the control
unit 3 for performing various operations. The storage unit 7 is provided
for storing measured data (i.e., the unhealthy-side and healthy-side
measured data) and calculation results associated with the correlations.
The display unit 4 is provided for displaying the measured data and the
calculation results associated with the correlations in a manner of text
or diagram (i.e., the electromyogram). The wireless communication unit 5
may apply at least one wireless communication technology, such as
Bluetooth, ZigBee, 2G, 2.5G, 2.75G, 3G, WiFi, WiMax, infrared, radio,
etc., such that the device 100 is capable of communicating with an
external electronic device 700 (for example, a notebook computer) via the
wireless communication unit 5 so as to transmit the measured data and the
calculation results associated with the correlations to the external
electronic device 700.

[0043] Data associated with measurement of the electromyography signals
and determination of the correlations by the device 100 in this
embodiment are provided hereinafter. The data are obtained from a subject
with normal swallowing and a subject who suffers from swallowing
disorder. The subject with normal swallowing is a 64-year-old male, who
has no medical history of neuromuscular disorder, has not undergone head
and neck surgery or radiation therapy, and is not taking medications
(such as muscle relaxant) that might affect neuromuscular functions. The
subject who suffers from swallowing disorder is a 65-year-old male, who
has dysphagia following unilateral stroke, has high blood pressure
(hypertension) and diabetes, has incidence of right brain hemorrhagic
strobe over two months, and relies on nasogastric tube feeding. Clinical
assessment of swallowing is described as follows. Movement range of left
side lips and tongue is relatively small, lift force of left side soft
palate is weak, delayed triggering of swallowing reflex, coughing & wet
vice following swallowing, weak spontaneous coughing, reflexic coughing
appear moderate strength, and the functional oral intake scale is 1.
During the testing procedure, the subjects were instructed to drink 5 cc
of water.

[0045] It is evident from Table 3 that the calculation results of the
correlations associated the subject with normal swallowing are mostly
greater than 0.9, which implies that contraction situations between the
left-side swallowing muscle group and the right-side swallowing muscle
group resulting from swallowing behavior are similar. Table 3 further
indicates that the subject with swallowing disorder has a relatively low
correlation (0.2022) between the integrated data of a respective one of
the unhealthy-side OO muscles and the healthy-side OO muscles, has a
relatively low correlation (0.6962) between the integrated data of a
respective one of the unhealthy-side MS muscles and the healthy-side MS
muscles, has a relatively low correlation (-0.5036) between the duration
of contraction of a respective one of the unhealthy-side swallowing
muscle group and the healthy-side swallowing muscle group, and has a
relatively low correlation (-0.1355) between the means of intensity of
the electromyography signals of a respective one of the unhealthy-side
swallowing muscle group and the healthy-side swallowing muscle group. It
is apparent from the aforementioned data that through calculating the
Pearson's correlation coefficients in this embodiment, severity of
swallowing disorder of a subject may be evaluated.

[0046] A second preferred embodiment of the device for measuring and
analyzing electromyography signals according to the present invention
differs from the first preferred embodiment in the configuration that the
number of the measuring electrodes of each of the unhealthy-side
measuring electrode unit 1 and the healthy-side measuring electrode unit
2 is three. Each of the measuring electrodes of the corresponding
measuring electrode unit may be disposed on one of: a respective one of
the OO muscles, the MS muscles and the SUB muscles; a respective one of
the OO muscles, the MS muscles and the LS muscles; and a respective one
of the MS muscles, the SUB muscles and the LS muscles at the same side.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 19, the third preferred embodiment of the device
100 for measuring and analyzing electromyography signals according to the
present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the device 100
further comprises a housing 200 for accommodating the control unit 3, the
display unit 4, the wireless communication unit 5, the input unit 6 and
the storage unit 7. The housing 200 is to be removably disposed on an
external portable electronic device 800 (such as a mobile phone). More
specifically, the housing 200 is designed to cover one side of the
external portable electronic device 800 so as to achieve an effect of
protecting the same. Furthermore, the device 100 for measuring and
analyzing electromyography signals additionally comprises a transmission
line 300 coupled electrically to the control unit 3. The transmission
line 300 has a plug 301 to be connected to a transmission port 801 of the
external portable electronic device 800, such that the control unit 3 is
able to communicate with the external portable electronic device 800 via
the transmission line 300. For instance, the measured data may be
transmitted to the external portable electronic device 800. In another
example, the control unit 3 is configured for communicating with the
external portable electronic device 800 via the wireless communication
unit 5 (see FIG. 1). By virtue of an integrated design of the device 100
and the housing 200, the device 100 for measuring and analyzing
electromyography signals is easier to carry.

[0048] To sum up, the device 100 according to the present invention, by
virtue of the non-invasive unhealthy-side measuring electrode unit 1 and
the healthy-side measuring electrode unit 2 for measuring the
electromyography signals of the target body part 9, the subject is not
required to be exposed to radiation and experiences less discomfort
during the assessment. It also takes shorter time to perform the
assessment, and the device 100 has a relatively low cost and is easy to
operate such that the device 100 of the present invention is more
suitable for regular examination of a patient with swallowing disorder.
Further, by virtue of the control unit 3 determining the correlation
between the unhealthy-side measured data and the healthy-side measured
data, severity of swallowing disorder of the subject may be evaluated
based on the correlation.

[0049] While the present invention has been described in connection with
what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is
understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within
the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass
all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.